French officials have added the United States to their “red list” for travel and will now require unvaccinated Americans to quarantine for ten days.
Fully vaccinated Americans will have to show proof of a negative COVID test before boarding their flights.
Afghanistan, Serbia, Russia and Belarus are also on the “red list.”
France is one of six countries in the world to have recorded more than 10 million cases since the pandemic began, according to a report from France 24.
While they are cracking down on travelers, the country has eased some restrictions on vaccinated people who test positive for the virus. Fully vaccinated people who have tested positive for the virus will only have to isolate for seven days.
They can leave quarantine after just five days if they show an antigen or negative PCR test.
The Ministry of Health said that the changes are due to them taking “into account the extremely rapid evolution of the spread of the Omicron variant in France,” but also allow “benefit-risk balance aimed at ensuring the virus is controlled while maintaining socio-economic life.”
Additionally, their statement said, “the first available virological data” showed “the incubation period of Omicron appears to be faster than previous variants, favouring a possible reduction in the length of isolation.”
